4月10日

標　　題： 死亡的毒鉤在哪裡？

經　　節： 死啊！你得勝的權勢在哪裡？死啊！你的毒鉤在哪裡？（哥林多前書十五章55節）

幾世紀以來，死亡一直是我們殘酷、無情且頑強的敵人。不管你今世的身分地位多麼高、能力多麼強，或財富多麼豐碩，你仍然免不了一死。我們一旦出生，死亡就等著我們。許多人試圖研製長生不老的藥，但從來沒有一個人成功。

復活的事實為我們帶來一個真理，就是死亡已經被擊敗了！死亡不再是堅不可摧的敵人，因為基督已經進入地獄之門，徹底戰勝死亡。祂已經完全征服死亡，而現在祂保證祂的跟隨者，也就是我們，也能分享祂的勝利。基督徒不用懼怕死亡，基督已經先我們一步到天堂，並且祂也將接我們上天堂，與祂會合。死亡不能再控制我們，我們能夠自由地體驗神榮耀、神聖的同在。沒有任何疾病能擊敗我們，沒有任何災難可以剝奪我們的永生。死亡可能會暫時取走我們所愛的，然而，它也帶我們進入那最愛我們的主的同在。神的榮耀就是祂的同在。死亡──我們最大的敵人──已經變成工具，使信徒能夠體驗神的榮耀！

不要讓任何一絲對死亡的懼怕，妨礙你體驗豐盛的生命。死亡不能奪取你的永生，因為永生是神兒女的當然產業。耶穌在天堂已為你預備一個超過你所能理解的地方（約翰福音十四：1∼4）。死亡只是一扇門，你有一天將經過此門通往天堂，領取天堂的獎賞。

Where Is Death’s Sting?

"O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" (1 Corinthians 15:55)

Over the centuries, death has been our relentless and unyielding enemy. No one, regardless of worldly rank, strength, or wealth has been able to escape death. As soon as we are born, death becomes our destiny. Many have tried, but no one has developed an antidote for death.

The reality of the resurrection is that death has been defeated! It is no longer the impregnable enemy, for Christ marched through the gates of Hades and claimed decisive victory over death. He conquered death completely; now He assures His followers that we, too, will share in His victory. Christians need not fear death. Christ has gone before us and will take us to join Him in heaven. Death frees us to experience the glorious, heavenly presence of God. No illness can defeat us. No disaster can rob us of eternal life. Death can temporarily remove us from those we love, but it transfers us into the presence of the One who loves us most. God’s glory is His presence. Death, our greatest enemy, is nothing more than the vehicle that enables believers to experience God’s glory!

Do not allow a fear of death to prevent you from experiencing a full and abundant life. Death cannot rob you of the eternal life that is your inheritance as a child of God. Jesus has prepared a place for you in heaven that surpasses your imagination (John 14:1–4). Death will one day be the door by which you gain access to all that is yours in heaven.